Ring assembly

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a ring assembly providing forced circulation of a cooling liquid in thermally conductive contact with the ring. The use of a forced cooled and lubricated ring permits substantially increased spindle speeds, particularly for spinning or twisting of materials requiring high balloon tensions.

United States Patent Doleman et al.

[451 Feb. 18, 1975 RING ASSEMBLY Inventors: Jack Doleman, WestMelbourne;

William H. Hills, Melbourne, both of Fla.

Assignee: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo.

Filed: Jan. 10, 1974 Appl. No.1 433,023

US. Cl 57/119, 57/l20, 57/l56 Int. Cl. D0lh 7/52, D0lh 7/62 Field ofSearch 57/1 R 34 R, I12, 119,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ll/l897 Foster 57/l 19 X2.756.558 7/1956 Camp ct al. 57 [I9 3.302.382 2/1967 Klutt 57,9[203,369,358 2/l968 Wayson 57/l10 3,399,522 9/1968 Wayson 57, 120 3.5935127/l97l Wayson ct all 57,020 3,603,070 9/1971 Alwood cl al, 57 20 PrimaryExaminerDonald E. Watkins [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure relates to a ringassembly providing forced circulation of a cooling liquid in thermallyconductive contact with the ring. The use of a forced cooled andlubricated ring permits substantially increased spindle speeds.particularly for spinning or twisting of materials requiring highballoon tensions.

15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures RING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to textile ring assemblies of the type commonlyreferred to as spinning rings and to methods for their improved use forspinning and twisting operations. Spindle speeds of ring assemblies andballoon tensions associated with their use are limited because the heatof friction developed as a result of the passage of the traveler aboutthe inner circumference of the ring. In the course of such operationsthermoplastic travelers commonly employed will rapidly wear, or evenmelt, as the heat of friction accumulates in the ring as a result ofincreasing speeds and tensions. Moreover, as heat of friction developsthe viscosity of the lubricant changes and can, with enough heat,evaporate from the surface of the ring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in ringassemblies. The invention further relates to methods for use of suchimproved assemblies for spinning and twisting fiber and filamentarymaterials.

More particularly, the invention relates to a ring twister assemblycomprising a ring support having a metallic ring mounted thereon incombination with means for lubricating the said ring and means for forcecirculating a heat transfer liquid in thermally conductive contact andpreferably in direct contact with the said ring. Additionally, theinvention relates to an improved method for spinning or twisting aplurality of fibers or filaments, such as wire or other mineral fibersor organic fibers on a ring twister assembly having a supported andlubricated metallic ring and a traveler mounted on the said ring wherethe fibers or filaments traverse the traveler, wherein the improvementcomprises force circulating a cooling heat transfer liquid in thermallyconductive contact with the said ring.

The use of the improved ring assembly of this invention generallypermits operations at higher traveler speeds and higher balloon tensionswithout corre' sponding reductions in the useful life of plastictravelers and without substantial viscosity changes or degradation ofthe lubricant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other features of theinvention will become more apparent from the following description ofthe invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of a ring assemblyshowing means for force circulating a heat transfer liquid in thermallyconductive contact with the said ring;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing, in part, the ring assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a different ring modification ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a different ring modification ofthe invention; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical section view of still another differentmodification of the ring assembly of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 strand is wound ontorotating bobbin 12 mounted on a driven spindle 14. The strand l0traverses traveler l6 slidably mounted on ring 20 which is in turnmounted on a ring support 22. The traveler 16 will contact the ring 21as it rotates or slides thereabout at points, for example, 24 and 26.Additionally, the strand l0 traverses the traveler across an abrasionresistant insert 18. A passageway or cavity 28 is situated about thecircumference of the ring 20 to provide passageway for a heat transferliquid in actual contact with the ring 20. Jet 30 provides a means forspraying a lubricant oil 32 on the surface of the ring 20. As spindle 14is rotated strand l0 traverses traveler l6 and is wound onto bobbin 12.Higher spindle speeds and higher tensions of the strand balloon 34 causeincreasing friction at points 24 and 26 as the traveler l6 rotates aboutring 20. The friction results in heat build-up in the ring sufficient toseverely increase wear or even melt conventional plastic coated or nylontravelers. Referring to FIG. 2, liquid coolant input conduit 36 andliquid coolant exit conduit 38 are connected to the passageway 28. Thepassageway 28 has a baffle or dam 40 so that liquid coolant supplied tothe passageway 28by a pump, or other means not shown, through input pipe36 conduit will be forced to exit, at least in part, and preferablyentirely, through the liquid coolant conduit exit 38. Othermodifications of the forced cooled ring assembly are illustrated byFIGS. 3, 4 and 5 wherein each depicts a ring 42, 44 and 46,respectively, mounted on a ring support 48, 50 and 52, respectively, andeach having a passageway 54, 56 and 58, respectively, for circulation ofthe liquid coolant in thermally conductive contact with the ring. As analternative to the spray lubricating means 30 shown in FIG. 1, rings 42and 44 have lubricant ducts 60 and 62, respectively, in which case alubricant is normally gravity fed to the ducts used in combination withporous sintered metallic rings.

As indicated above the use of the method and apparatus of this inventionresult in greatly increasing the performance levels attainable both interms of spindle speeds and balloon tensions. The invention hasparticular applicability for operations which require balloon tensionsof greater than L000 grams to avoid kinks and curls in the strandballoon and in order to form symmetrical cord constructions,

Heat of friction appears to increase with increasing products of balloontension and traveler velocity. That is, as either the traveler velocityor the balloon tension is increased, more heat accumulates in the ringas a result of increased friction between the traveler and the ring,Although a well lubricated ring is necessary for operations according tothis invention, the combined use of a force circulated liquid coolant isessential as below indicated in the example and in the appended claims.Thus, at high spindle speeds and high balloon tensions, the lubricantchanges viscosity and will, if heat continues to accumulate, vaporizewith copious evolution of smoke. If conventional thermoplastictravelers, notably nylon, are used heat accumulation in the ring willrapidly degrade the traveler and, as above indicated, even melt thetraveler. Thus, where one desires to spin or twist heavy organic fiberconstructions, or where one uses the ring twister for operationsinvolving materials such as wire or bast fibers, there is a tendency forthe cord to kink or curl in the strand balloon. If such a kink or curlis formed in the balloon it will normally break or disengage thetraveler from the ring as the kink or curl attempts to traverse thetraveler. To avoid the formation of such kinks or curls, high balloontensions are imposed on the system and, as already indicated, thisresults in increases in the friction between the ring and traveler.Thus, according to the instant invention, the problems of increasingheat of friction due to higher spindle speeds and higher balloontensions can be resolved by force circulating a cooling liquid inthermally conductive contact with the ring during the spinning ortwisting operation to remove heat from the rmg.

Except for the force cooling means and corresponding increasedoperational potential, the construction and operation of the ringtwister assembly, the travelers used, whether metallic or plastic, aswell as the use of either mist ring lubrication spray or gravity fedporous ring lubrication, may comprise the use of standard art practicesand equipment.

In the operation of the preferred embodiment of this invention a coolingliquid, most preferably water, is forced from a source, such as a pump,through a passageway having a relationship to the ring such that thefluid will remove heat energy from the ring. While best heat transferfrom the ring to the circulating liquid is achieved by direct contactbetween the liquid and the ring', the improvements of the invention canalso be realized in modifications as depicted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5wherein the coolant is forced through a passageway where the liquidcoolant is not in actual contact with the ring, but rather in thermallyconductive contact, as through a copper pipe surrounding the outercircumference of the ring, for example.

This invention is believed to expand the potential of ring twistertechnology for use in the spinning and twisting of fibers and filamentsfor reasons hereinbefore assigned. Such fibers and filaments comprisewire, particularly steel wire for tire cord, mineral fibers such asglass fibers, organic fibers such as nylon, polyester, bast fibers,including hemp, sisal and jute, slit films, foamed fibers and the like.

While water is the coolant liquid preferred for use in the operation ofthe invention, other heat transfer liquids, including aqueous mixturescan be used.

EXAMPLE Spindle S eed 6400 rpm Traveler peed about 6200 rpm Feed Rate190 fpm Lubricant 30 SAE spray at 6 drops per min.

50 grains'fall nylon) about 2200 grams nominal 8 gallons per hourTraveler Weight Balloon Tension Normal water flow After 63 minutes ofcontinuous operation the twister was deliberately stopped for purpose ofinspecting the traveler. A slight cut diagonally across the traveler wasobserved as a result of the traversal of cord thereacross.

The point at which the traveler contacted the ring (generallycorresponding to point 26 on FIG. 1) showed only very slight wear.

For comparison purposes three additional runs were made under the sameconditions on the same twisting machine, except that the liquid flow wasturned oft. Operations were involuntarily terminated in each ofthe threeruns at 2 minutes and 30 seconds, 2 minutes and 20 seconds and 2 minutesand 7 seconds, all because of traveler failure. Inspection ofthetravelers in each case revealed that the nylon polymer had melted at thepoint of the break.

While this invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments, various changes and modifications may be apparent to thoseskilled in the art and the invention is not therefore intended to belimited to such embodiments except as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A ring twister assembly comprising a ring support, a metallic ringmounted thereon, means for lubricating the said ring and means for forcecirculating a heat transfer liquid in thermally conductive contact withthe said ring.

2. The assembly of claim 1 having means for force circulating a heattransfer fluid in direct contact with the said ring.

3. The assembly of claim 1 having means for supplying a lubricating miston the surface of the said ring.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the liquid comprises water.

5. In a method for spinning or twisting a plurality of fibers orfilaments on a ring twister assembly having a supported and lubricated,metallic ring and a traveler mounted on the said ring, wherein saidfibers or filaments traverse the said traveler, the improvement whichcomprises force circulating a cooling heat transfer liquid in thermallyconductive contact with said ring.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the fibers or filaments are wires.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the wires are steel wires.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the fibers or filaments are mineralfibers.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the mineral fibers or filaments areglass.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the fibers or filaments are organicmaterials.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the filaments are nylon filaments.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the organic materials are bastfibers.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein the traveler is comprised of nylon.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein the liquid comprises water.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein the liquid is in direct contact withthe ring.

1. A ring twister assembly comprising a ring support, a metallic ringmounted thereon, means for lubricating the said ring and means for forcecirculating a heat transfer liquid in thermally conductive contact withthe said ring.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 having means for forcecirculating a heat transfer fluid in direct contact with the said ring.3. The assembly of claim 1 having means for supplying a lubricating miston the surface of the said ring.
 4. The aSsembly of claim 1 wherein theliquid comprises water.
 5. In a method for spinning or twisting aplurality of fibers or filaments on a ring twister assembly having asupported and lubricated, metallic ring and a traveler mounted on thesaid ring, wherein said fibers or filaments traverse the said traveler,the improvement which comprises force circulating a cooling heattransfer liquid in thermally conductive contact with said ring.
 6. Themethod of claim 5 wherein the fibers or filaments are wires.
 7. Themethod of claim 6 wherein the wires are steel wires.
 8. The method ofclaim 5 wherein the fibers or filaments are mineral fibers.
 9. Themethod of claim 8 wherein the mineral fibers or filaments are glass. 10.The method of claim 5 wherein the fibers or filaments are organicmaterials.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the filaments are nylonfilaments.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the organic materials arebast fibers.
 13. The method of claim 5 wherein the traveler is comprisedof nylon.
 14. The method of claim 5 wherein the liquid comprises water.15. The method of claim 5 wherein the liquid is in direct contact withthe ring.